Diagnosing Growth Disorders PE Clayton School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health
Content Normal pattern of growth and its variation Using growth charts Interpreting auxological measures Recognising an abnormal growth pattern Clues in the history Triggers to the decision to undertake investigation Types of investigation Making a diagnosis
Anthropometry GH + sex steroid dependent Nutrition dependent phase GH dependent GV >5 cm/yr GV >8 cm/yr Parental target range Height Age
Plotting Growth Data Mid-parental height from Mother s & Father s heights Parental target Target height in relation to parental heights (cms) Boys FH + MH + 7 2 Girls FH + MH - 7 2 4
Pubertal Staging: A. Genital & Pubic Hair development in Boys B. Pubic Hair development in Girls C. Breast development in Girls 5
Bone Age If delayed compared to chronological age suggestive of chronic underlying problem, but not necessarily endocrine. Normal BA = CA +/- 1 year 6
Growth & Puberty are inextricably linked Mid-parental height from Mother s & Father s heights + details on parental, sibling puberty 7
Process to Follow: History Medical clues System screen Impact on life Internet exploration* Physical Examination System screen Growth & puberty assessment Explore expectations* Formulate a differential diagnosis [Order tests] [Evaluate tests] Reach a diagnosis or reformulate differential diagnosis 8
Causes of Short Stature: Idiopathic short stature, including Constitutional delay of growth & puberty Genetic / Familial SS Associated with systemic disease Born small with failure of catch-up Chromosomal / Genetic syndrome [monogenic] Psychosocial Endocrine Bone dysplasia [Primary malnutrition] Three specific growth therapies: r-hgh r-higf-i Sex steroids GH Deficiency / Hypopituitarism Primary Secondary Hypothyroidism
GH + sex steroid dependent Nutrition dependent phase GH dependent GV >5 cm/yr GV >8 cm/yr Parental target range Causes: Causes: Chronic disease GHD Height Syndromes eg Turners, Skeletal dysplasia Psychosocial Endocrine Causes: SGA Sex steroid deficiency If GHD, then exclude SOL urgently Age
Skeletal dysplasias Achondroplasia Causes: Height Chronic disease Syndromes eg Turners, Skeletal dysplasia Psychosocial SGA Age
Russell Silver Syndrome Causes: Chronic disease Height Syndromes eg Turners, Skeletal dysplasia Psychosocial SGA SGA Tendency toward hypoglycaemia Methylation abnormaities on Chr 11 UPD maternal Chr 7
Hypothyroidism
Coeliac disease
Psycho-social deprivation
Screening Investigations in a Short child: System disorder, Endocrine Hormone Subject Normal range (15yr old male) Free T4 (Thyroxine) 18 pmol/l 9-24 pmol/l TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) 2.1 mu/l 0.3-3.0 mu/l IGF-I (Insulin-like growth factor 1) 110 µg/l 168-859 µg/l 19
Concentrations of IGF-I in blood versus Age X X Juul et al JCEM 1994 20
Identifying GH Deficiency: History, phenotype & anthropometry Defining the status of the GH-IGF axis MR imaging with specific views of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis Genetic analysis Infant : Early - Late Childhood : Teens
Neonatal Tips in the History Hypoglycaemia, prolonged jaundice, microphallus, traumatic delivery Prior pituitary insult Cranial irradiation Tumour, infiltration, infection Trauma Family history Consanguinity Persistent decrease in growth rate
Case1 Term Female with Hypoglycaemia & prolonged jaundice Basal TFT TSH 9.5u/L, ft 4 9pmol/L TRH TSH 9-20-22u/L LDST Cortisol Peak 300nmol/L GH stimulation Peak GH 15µg/L IGF-I sds -4 Treatment started with T 4, Hydrocortisone & GH MRI Small Ant Pit, Ectopic PP, Stalk visible, midline intact Diagnosis: Congenital Hypopituitarism Age 6-8 weeks Not fixing consistently, eye wobble noted. Ophthalmic review Small Optic Discs
Phenotype: GH Deficiency
Isolated, idiopathic GHD ± MR hypothalamic-pituitary abnormalities
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Anthropometry
Hypothalamus Pituitary GHRH Defining the GH- IGF axis Status GH GH Receptor GH Cell-associated IGFBP/ IGF complex Liver IGF-I ALS IGFBP-3 IGF-I Receptor Ternary complex Target Tissues e.g.bone, muscle IGFBP / IGF complexes IGF-I
GH Tests Insulin Tolerance Test Arginine Glucagon Clonidine Sleep GHRH + Arginine Profiles 12hr, 24hr, overnight Urinary GH Normative data Assay issues Priming Cut-off levels
GH maximal response, under placebo (P) or E2 administration in SS and GHD children. MartÍnez A S et al. JCEM 2000;85:4168-4172 2000 by Endocrine Society
GH Assay Issues Cut-off Levels in GH Stimulation Tests Wagner et al EJE 2014
GH Cut-off Levels <3 µg/l <5 <6.1 <6.7 <7 <10 Severe childhood GHD: Adult GHD cut-off Transition GHD cut-off Transition GHD cut-off Childhood GHD cut-off [monoclonal assays] Childhood GHD cut-off Childhood GHD cut-off [older polyclonal assays]
Normative Data for serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 IGF-I levels in Males from Juul et al JCEM 1994 IGFBP-3 levels in Males from Juul et al JCEM 1995
An example of performance of serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 assessments Ranke et al Horm Res 2000
Cut-off Values (using ROCs) for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 SDS in the diagnosis of GHD, defined by peak GH level <7µg/L Sensitivity 68% Specificity 97% Sens 60% Spec 90% Boquete et al JCEM 2003
The Process (Personal Practice) Once a decision is made to undertake GH provocation testing, then other pituitary function needs to be checked Single Provocation test (1st choice agent: Arginine) & serum IGF-I If there is a test failure (peak GH < cut-off) & background clinical risk factor / recognised associated condition, then accept as GHD, and ensure hp axis MR done If there is a test failure with no risk factors, second Provocation test (2nd choice agent: Glucagon) & repeat serum IGF-I If both GH tests failed, arrange hp axis MR
Leger et al JCEM 2005
We know when we have genuine GHD, but significant uncertainty remains when we have biochemical GHD without MR abnormality, or only minor anomaly
Genetics
Case 2 First seen at 2 years with poor growth from birth Normal developmental milestones Positive history of short stature in paternal grandfather By the age of 7 years, she was self-conscious, manipulative and was showing deterioration in her school performance Mid-parental height 25 th centile Initial Investigations: FBC, ECG, Blood sugar, Urinalysis, Urea & Electrolyte, Chest radiograph Normal
Case 2 Marked short stature Cause not defined Differential diagnosis: Skeletal dysplasia Storage Disorder (Mucopolysaccharidosis) GH deficiency Further investigations required for which facilities were not available in Nigeria Age 7 years
Summary of Pituitary Investigations in the UK Test Result Comment Arginine Stimulation test - peak GH <0.05mcg/l low level IGF-1 33ng/ml low Prolactin <50mu/l low Synacthen Test Cortisol (nmol/l) Basal 30 minute 60 minute GnRH Test Basal 30 minute 60 minute TRH test Basal TSH 15minute TSH 60minute TSH Free T4 161 667 881 LH (U/l) FSH (U/l) <0.1 1.1 1.7 10 2.6 14 3.4mu/l 3.6mu/l 3.3mu/l 9pmol/l Normal result Normal result normal normal low What is the Diagnosis?
PIT1/R271W mutation in exon 6 Heterozygous c>t change indicated by circle (cgg>tgg, R>W) Dominant mutation in POU1F1 Turton, J. P. G. et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005;90:4762-4770
rhgh & T4
Guiding Clinical Practice Clinicians should be familiar with the details of the assays used in their local laboratories for GH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3. Where local GH assay and test specific data on cut-offs for stimulation tests are not available, we would recommend the use of cut-off values described by Wagner et al. Normative data are available for most IGF-I and IGFBP-3 assays. These should be used when interpreting results. The diagnosis of GHD remains multifactorial and our practice is based around Consensus Guidelines. MR imaging should include specific views of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Our practice is to prime all prepubertal patients (aged >8 years for girls or >9 years for boys) prior to GH stimulation testing; oral oestrogen based preparations are used for girls and boys. Genetic tests may be required to confirm diagnoses
Conclusions Regular plotting of growth data on an appropriate chart Recognising an abnormal growth pattern & triggering investigations Hierarchical approach Achieving a specific diagnosis